Justice News

Shreveport felon sentenced to 10 years for possession of firearm, methamphetamine distribution

SHREVEPORT, La. –United StatesAttorney David C. Joseph announced that a Shreveport felon was sentenced last week to 120 months in prison for possessing methamphetamine and a pistol in his car.

William Charles Riggs, 44, of Shreveport, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on one count of felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He was also sentenced to four years of supervised release. According to the March 13, 2018 guilty plea, Louisiana State Police attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Riggs’ vehicle on April 28, 2017 in Bossier Parish. The trooper observed the car straddling the center line, and when the traffic stop was initiated, the car sped off at a high rate of speed. The car eventually crashed, and Riggs escaped on foot. He was later apprehended. Troopers searched the vehicle and found 27.21 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded model 22; .40 caliber Glock pistol.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safe for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

The ATF, DEA, Louisiana State Police and Bossier City Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford prosecuted the case.